Bridle attachment



7 May 19, 1936- w. B. STEPHENS BRIDLE ATTACHMENT Filed May 1, 1933Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved bridle for horses.

One object of the invention is to provide a bridle which will be humaneand which will, nevertheless, be very effective.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bridle having meansfor controlling a horse which, when placed in proper position, will notbecome disengaged or disarranged from about the horses mouth.

A further object of, the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter wherein the nose band employed will be shielded alongits innersurface so that scratching of the horses nose and consequent irritationwill be prevented.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a bridle whichmay be easily assembled any may be placed into usewith theutmostfacility. v

Other and incidental objects of the invention, not mentioned in theforegoing, will be apparent during the course of the followingdescription.

In the drawing forming a part of my application, Figure l is aperspective view showing my device as it would appear applied to ahorse,

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the device itself, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on theline 33 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing wherein likenumerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, thenumeral I indicates, in general, a bridle for a horse. The bridlecomprises a brow band 2, a crown piece 3, a throat latch 4 and cheekstraps 5. The brow band, crown piece, throat latch, and cheek straps areconnected at opposite sides of the horses head by means of rings 6.

Mounted at the corresponding lower ends of the cheek straps 5 is myimproved attachment which includes side pieces 1 and 8 which arepreferably formed of flat strips of metal which are light in weight butof sufiicient strength to prevent bending or buckling. The correspondingupper ends of the side pieces 1 and 8 are formed with curved portions 9and I0. Carried on the corresponding free ends of the curved portionsare hooks II and I2. As seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, the side piecesare adapted to be disposed adjacent the horses mouth at opposite sidesthereof with the curved portions 9 and I0 disposed rearwardly.

A small chain I3 is disposed beneath the horses jaw and has its oppositeends connected withthe hooks II and I2. The chain l3 cooperates with theside pieces 7 and 8 for retaining said side pieces in a substantiallyvertical position. It is to be understood that the chain l3 may besubstituted by a stra if desired, or said chain may, if. desired, beprovided with a leather sheath so that the metal will not come incontact with the horses jaw. Carried on the chain l3 and adapted forpositioning medially of its length is a ring 36.

Mounted on the side pieces I and 8, at the base of the curved portion,and in a substantially horizontal plane with the hooks II and I2, areloops I4 and I5 which are preferably formed. of heavy wire and areriveted, or otherwise secured, to the inner margin of the side pieces.The loops l4 and I5 are adapted to receive the straps of a rein l6.Carried on the lower end portion of the side pieces 1 and 8 are eyes I!and I8 and freely mounted in the eyes are rings l9 and 20 which areadapted securely to receive the reins 2| and 22. Carried on the sidepieces 7 and 8 and riveted, or otherwise secured, thereto at pointssubstantially medially between loops l4 and I! on the piece I, and I5and I8 on the piece 8, are loops 23 and 24. Extending between the loops23 and 24 and adapted to engage beneath the horses lower jaw is apreferably leather strap 25, said strap 25 extending through the ring36. The strap 25 is adjustable by means of a buckle 26.

Mounted on the side pieces 1 and 8, near the bases of the curvedportions 9 and ID, are con necting plates 21 and 28. The connectingplates are preferably formed of flat metal and are slightly bowedlongitudinally. As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing, the lower endportions of. the connecting plates 21 and 28 are swingingly connected tothe curved portions bymeans of screws 29 which are upset at their innerends, as indicated at 36 so that the plates may be permitted to swing onthe curved portions without danger of loosening the screws. Mounted onthe connecting plates, near their corresponding inner ends, are loops 3|and 32 which are adapted to receive the cheek straps 5 at opposite sidesof the horse's head. The loops 3| and 32 may be riveted or otherwisesecured to the plates 21 and 28.

Preferably riveted to the plates 21 and 28 is an arcuate nose band 33and the nose band is formed from sheet metal. Riveted to the innersurface of the nose band is a leather, or other relatively soft liningpiece 34 which will protect the horses nose from direct contact with themetal of the nose band. A pair of rivets 35 are employed for connectingthe opposite ends of the nose band with the upper corresponding ends ofthe connecting plates 2'! and 28. If desired, the nose band 33 may besubstituted by a chain sheathed in a leather covering.

In use, a bridle equipped with my improved device is placed upon thehorses head and the reins are connected to the loops l4 and H on theside piece l, and I5 and I8 on the side piece 8. The strap 25 and thechain l3 are disposed beneath the horses chin groove immediatelyrearwardly of the horses lower jaw. When driving the horse, the tensionupon the reins at either side will tighten or loosen the tension of thestrap 25 and chain It against the horses chin groove, and at the sametime, the tension of the nose band 33 against the horses nose will bevaried. Therefore, the movements of the horse may be readily andpositively controlled by varying the stress placed -upon the reins, asabove explained. It is pointed out that the use of my improved bridleattachment will eliminate the inhumane use of the bit in the horsesmouth. My bridle will be particularly useful in connection with horsesand mules having tender mouths. The device is especially adapted for useon polo horses where it is otherwise necessary to use bits 21. greatdeal.

Attention is directed to the fact that my improved attachment may beused with any standard bridle, the one shown herewith being used merelyfor purposes of illustration.

The parts of my improved attachment are so located that the nose bandwill be disposed in a position on the horses nose to permit perfectbalance and greater leverage so that the chain l3 and strap 25 will bedisposed in the chin groove of the horses jaw.

My improved attachment will be easy to install and will be cheap inmanufacture and it is believed that a reading of the foregoingdescription will make clear the fact that I have provided a highlyefficient deviceof this character.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, side pieces each consistingof a flat strip of rigid material having its upper portion rearwardlyand downwardly bent, hooks carried by the lower free ends of the curvedupper portions of said strips and depending therefrom, eyes pivoted tothe lower ends of said strips and extending rearwardly therefrom, ringscarried by said eyes for engagement by a lower set of reins, upper andlower loops carried by said strips inspaced relation to each otherlongitudinally thereof with the upper loops in approximately thehorizontal plane of said hooks and the lower loops intermediate the eyesand upper loops, the said upper loops constituting attaching means forupper reins, a resilient nose band, connecting strips secured at theirupper ends to ends of said nose band and extending longitudinallytherefrom in alinement with the band and having their lower ends pivotedto said side strips at approximately the forward ends of the curvedupper portions of the said side strips, loops carried by said connectingstrips intermediate their ends for engagement by check straps of abridle, a chain suspended at its ends from said hooks and of a length tobe disposed in a horses chin groove, a ring loose upon said chain andnormally disposed centrally thereof, and a strap passed loosely throughthe ring of said chain and at its ends connected with the lower loops ofthe side strips.

2. A curb comprising a pair of cheek bars, a chin strap extendingloosely between intermediate portions of the cheek bars, a jaw chainextending loosely between the upper end portions of the cheek bars,means connecting the jaw chain, at an intermediate point, to the chinstrap, arms pivotally mounted on the cheek bars in spaced relation belowthe upper ends thereof, and a nose band extending between the free endportions of the arms.

WAYNE B. STEPHENS.

